Forrestal (CVA 59) - Naval Cruise Book

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Executive fficer 5 W ll

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Captain obert Captain Robert S. Cole, a native of West Point, New York, entered the Navy in September 1963 from the NROTC contract program. Commissioned after graduation from Penn State Uni- versity, he completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in May 1965. Following A-4E replacement pilot training, Captain Cole re- ported to Attack Squadron FIFTEEN, NAS Cecil Field. During his tour, Captain Cole flew more than 200 combat missions over North Vietnam from the carrier deck of USS INTREPID. As- signed flight instructor duty, Captain Cole reported to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX at NAS Miramar in November 1968. During his tour he worked as Squadron Train- ing Officer and helped initiate adversary training among Mira- mar based fighter squadrons. In July 1970 the Captain reported to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE, as Maintenance Officer, forward de- ployed aboard USS MIDWAY in Japan. ' Captain Cole attended the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island in 1975, followed by a tour in the Pentagon where he served as the Head of Naval Aviation Manpower and Plan- ning COP-051. In August 1978 Captain Cole reported to FI- TRON SEVENTY-FOUR as Executive Officer and later be- came Commanding Officer embarked on board USS FORRES- S. Cole, USN TAL. In August 1981 he reported to Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as Fighter Training Officer for the East Coast. In April 1984 Captain Cole reported aboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY as Executive Officer, followed by com- mand of the USS CANISTEO CAO-991 in July 1986. He re- turned to USS FORRESTAL from his last assignment as Execu- tive Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe X Com- mander in Chief European Command, SHAPE, Belgium. Captain Cole has logged over 3500 hours of flight time and 800 carrier landings. His personal decorations include the De- fense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal ftwo awardsj, Air Med- al, seventeen Strike Flight Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal with combat Vw Cfour awardsj, Navy Achievement Med- al with combat V,' Qthree awardsj, Humanitarian Service Med- al, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry CBronze Starj plus various unit awards and campaign medals. He has written numerous articles on Naval Aviation Safety and 'served as Grampaw Pettibonel' while Contributing Editor to Naval Aviation News Magazine. The Captain completed his Masters Degree at Salve Regina College, Newport, Rhode Island. Captain Cole resides in Jack- sonville, Florida with his wife, Paula. The Cole's have four chil- dren.

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ll!- Captain Gerard T. Lennon, Jr., USN Captain Gerard Thomas Lennon, Jr. was born in Columbus, Ohio. The son of a career Naval Aviator, he traveled throughout the country while growing up. He attended Ohio State Univer- sity where he participated in the NROTC program. Graduating in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Manpower and Industrial Relations he was commissioned an Ensign. Follow- ing flight training, Captain Lennon was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1972. Following fleet replacement training in the S-2E Tracker aircraft, Captain Lennon reported to VS-32 homeported in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. His four years with the squadron includ- ed detachments to the Caribbean, change of homeport to Cecil Field, Florida, transition to the S-3A Viking aircraft and deployments aboard USS JOHN F . KENNEDY CCV-671 to the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. Upon completion of this sea tour in August 1977, Captain Lennon was assigned as a flight instructor with VT-9 in Meridian, Mississippi. While there he was named the Training Wing ONE Flight Instructor of the Year for 1979 and earned his MBA from Mississippi State Uni- versity. Reporting to VS-41 during the summer of 1980 for refresher S-3A training, Captain Lennon was subsequently assigned to CVW-9 as the Staff ASW Operations Officer. During this tour he deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean aboard USS CONSTELLA- TION CCV-641 In March 1983, Captain Lennon was transferred to VS-22 where he served as squadron Administrative and Maintenance Officer and deployed to the South Atlantic and Mediterranean aboard USS JOHN F KENNEDY CCV-671. In June 1984, Captain Lennon was reassigned and served as the Readiness and Chief Staff Officer for Commander, Air Antisubmarine Wing ONE. In November 1985, Captain Lennon reported as Executive Officer of VS-28 deploying to the Mediterranean aboard USS FOR- RESTAL CCV-591. On May 5, 1987, Captain Lennon becamethe 27th Commanding Officer of VS-28 deploying aboard USS FORRESTAL CCV-591 to the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and North Atlantic. His next tour was as Navigator aboard USS FORRESTAL and in June 1990, he reported as Executive Officer aboard FORRESTAL. Captain Lennon has been awarded two Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy Commenda- tion Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal and several unit, service and campaign awards. He is married to the former Christine Heisel of Chillicothe, Ohio. They reside in Green Cove Springs, Florida, with their daughter Nicole and son Michael.